Group B - Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

[Poker Boy]

Pakistan to win group. SA to pip NZ (unless SL are Qualifier 2 then it will be Pakistan and SL)

 

[Jono]

SA paying generously to top their group considering Pak will have no Inzy and the Younis debacle as well.

 

[Poker Boy]

SA paying generously to top their group considering Pak will have no Inzy and the Younis debacle as well.

But South Africa don't usually do well in Asia and remember Sri Lanka could be in this group too....

 

[Jono]

True, but SA drew 2-2 with India in ODIs last year (or was it early this year) when India were in red hot ODI form as well.

 

[Great Birtannia]

I'd think that Sri Lanka would qualify but the major question is, can they qualify above the West Indies? That will decide what pool they are in if I understand correctly, so if they are the top qualifier they are in Group A and if they are the 2nd ranked qualifier they are in Group B. I think NZ will be able to progress through with wins over South Africa and the 2nd Qualifier (probably Sri Lanka) but I think Pakistan might beat them.

http://wwwc1.cricinfo.com/iccct2006/content/series/232694.html?template=schedule

I think this group gets qualifier 1 and the thread titles are around the wrong way. I would be backing Sri Lanka to get through this group with South Africa if they qualify ahead of the West Indies.

 

[nightprowler10]

Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka? Dream group to watch?

 

[NZTailender]

Would be the most entertaining group to watch, surely...

 

[Perm]

Agreed.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Would be the most entertaining group to watch, surely...

How exactly? Most of the exciting star names would be in the other group - KP, Flintoff, McGrath, Symonds, Ponting, Lara, Gayle, Tendulkar, Dhoni.and so on.

The hypothetical group B has a few Pakistan players and a couple of individuals from the rest (Murali and Bond). That's it.

 

[Steulen]

How exactly? Most of the exciting star names would be in the other group - KP, Flintoff, McGrath, Symonds, Ponting, Lara, Gayle, Tendulkar, Dhoni.and so on.

The hypothetical group B has a few Pakistan players and a couple of individuals from the rest (Murali and Bond). That's it.

No. You would have four teams with an about equal chance of progressing.

The other group has a minnow in England, two hot-and-cold teams in India and Windies, and Australia who'll always qualify.

 

[Scaly piscine]

We're on about the most entertaining group to watch, not the most competitive.

Regardless for all anyone knows either group could be cut and dried after 2 games each, since there are two qualifiers any of the 8 could make it anyway. We don't know which games will be exciting either, the only known elements are the players which are decided more exciting in that hypothetical Group A.

 

[_Ed_]

The hypothetical group B has a few Pakistan players and a couple of individuals from the rest (Murali and Bond). That's it.

You don't consider Jayasuriya, McCullum, Boucher, Gibbs, Nel, Kemp or Ntini exciting to watch?

 

[Retox]

We're on about the most entertaining group to watch, not the most competitive.

The games being competitive doesn't make them entertaining?

 

[Scaly piscine]

The games being competitive doesn't make them entertaining?

The point is we don't know which is going to most competitive til they're played out anyway.

 

[aussie]

Both groups once those sides play very well will be equally entertaining, you really cant seperate - (spelling check).

 

[Scaly piscine]

You don't consider Jayasuriya, McCullum, Boucher, Gibbs, Nel, Kemp or Ntini exciting to watch?

Compared to KP, Flintoff, McGrath, Symonds, Ponting, Lara, Gayle, Tendulkar, Dhoni?

No chance.

 

[shortpitched713]

The point is we don't know which is going to most competitive til they're played out anyway.

On the same token we don't know which players will be exciting to watch until the games are played either. McGrath, Tendulkar, Lara, and co. might just play rubbish.

The whole arguments pretty stupid really since whatever you or I consider entertaining is totally subjective.

Especially midget ***. I don't know how the heck you get off to that **** Scaly.

 

[_Ed_]

Compared to KP, Flintoff, McGrath, Symonds, Ponting, Lara, Gayle, Tendulkar, Dhoni?

No chance.

Fair enough but I wasn't comparing them to players in Group A, I was replying to your comment that Group B only has "a few Pakistan players and a couple of individuals from the rest (Murali and Bond). That's it."

 

[Scaly piscine]

You've got to have a cut-off point somewhere otherwise you would say every international cricketer was exciting. Mine is just a bit higher because it's OD cricket, McGrath v Tendulkar? Nice. Nel v McCullum... meh.

 

[Tim]

The difference there is that Tendulkar is an opening batsman, McCullum bats #7 or #8 for NZ!!! you can't really compare that match-up.